1.
Students get focused immediately, and the warm-ups set expectations. Students know that when they enter my
classroom, they have something to do right away. They know where to find necessary handouts, and they have a section in their binders for them. It also helps cut down on socializing and chatter
at the start of class.
2.
They create routines. My students know that as soon as they enter class
they should start a given activity depending on the day of the week. Typically, I start the week with journal
writing. On two other days, I start with
Silent Sustained Reading. On Wednesdays
I have students complete SAT warm-ups, and on Fridays I usually have an editing
activity. By having planned warm-ups for
each day of the week, it helps me ensure that I will cover a variety of topics
and skills throughout the semester.
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| I have a classroom library to help students prepare for SSR. |
3. They’re a great management tool. In our school, teachers are expected to take
attendance on the computer at the beginning of each class. By having students work on a bell ringer
activity, it gives me a moment to take care of this task. Depending on the activity, it’s also a great
time for me to meet with a student individually or to provide assistance.
4.
Warm ups split a 90 minute block into manageable learning chunks. Research shows that the human attention span is
limited, so I need to divide my class periods into several short
activities. My warm-ups range from 5 –
15 minutes depending on the activity.
Often, I can link the warm-up to a standard or topic that will be
explored further in class. For instance,
I choose journal topics that are related to the day’s lesson.
5.
They don’t have to be graded. I
set the expectation that warm-ups must be completed but I do not always collect
them. This gives students an opportunity
to practice their learning without feeling threatened. This works especially well for
SAT warm ups, which are often intimidating to students. We always take a few minutes to discuss
answers in whole-class discussion, and students know they may be asked to share
answers, but they also know it’s okay for them to make mistakes.
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| Poetry Bell Ringers American Poets |
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| Poetry Bell Ringers British Poets |
This year I
plan to use my poetry bell ringers in my Advanced Placement English Literature
and Composition course. Students need to
be able to read, analyze, and write about poetry on the AP exam quickly. By completing these bell ringers weekly, my
students will have lots of practice with these skills and exposure to numerous
classic poems. If you’re interested in
trying some of these out, click on the images.
